Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) coating of medical grade Ti-6Al-4V substrate with a novel silica-calcium phosphate nano-composite (SCPC) in the particle size range 50 nm-5 μm has been described. The influence of EPD parameters and thermal treatment on the coating homogeneity, thickness and adhesion strength has been studied. SEM analyses showed that EPD carried out in 5% (w/v) SCPC/ethanol suspension at 50 V produced a homogeneous coating on passivated Ti alloy discs. Tensile tests carried out to evaluate the adhesion strength at the ceramic/metal interface showed that the SCPC coating layer developed adhesion strength of 47 ± 4 MPa with Ti alloy after thermal treatment at 800 °C for 1 hr. SEM – EDX analyses of the fracture surface revealed that the presence of SCPC layer on the surface of the Ti alloy indicating high interfacial stability. Upon immersion of the SCPC-coated Ti alloy substrate in PBS, a surface biological hydroxyapatite layer was deposited suggesting bone bonding ability. The successful coating of SCPC on the Ti-6Al-4V has the potential to stimulate rapid fixation and lower stress shielding by enhancing the bone bonding ability of the implant.